According to Austin CBS affiliate KEYE-TV, three GetEQUAL members were arrested at the Deuell/Birdwell offices. But Michael Diviesti, a state organizer with GetEQUAL, tells the Voice that it was actually five people, there to demonstrate in support of SB 237, authored by Senator Leticia Van de Putte, a Democrat from San Antonio. The bill would add "sexual orientation and gender identity/expression" as its own protected class to all state nondiscrimination laws.

GetEQUAL members had previously attended a reading of the bill at the April meeting of the Senate's Economic Development Committee. They warned that if they didn't see the bill move to the Senate floor by May 1, they'd be back to protest.

According to the Voice, the five are awaiting a bail hearing. As the paper also notes, Kirven was previously arrested during a similar protest at former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office in Washington. She got deferred adjudication and six months probation; when she completed it successfully in October 2010, all charges were dropped.

Kirven made news back in October when County Commissioner Maurine Dickey "mistook" her for a man, because of her short hair and style of dress. Dickey then shouted at her to stop taking photos during a public Commissioners Court hearing, for reasons that remain unclear. Kirven responded by offering Dickey some sensitivity training to deal better with the LGBT community; Dickey, to our knowledge, never took her up on it.

@John1073 Yes, we were there for the Equality Texas LGBT Lobby Day. Most of us served as team captains as a matter of fact. Several members were on different committees ranging from marriage to job protections, etc. We didn't wear our shirts b/c it was not a GetEqual TX event, but one sponsored by Equality Texas. I myself was in the marriage group.

We have called the offices of every member of the Economic Development Committee every day, petitioned, visited the offices personally several times after Lobby Day and still we are one vote short.

Keep in mind MLK. Jr was arressted 27 times to bring about change. Without non violent civil disobedience we would not have HIV AIDS medications and women would still be denied the right to vote. Arrest do change things and creates urgency in a way that talking or sharing personal stories can't.

We are 24 days away from the end of session. We have are backs against the wall. If you can offer ideas of what to do next, please share.

@John1073 Uh, unless you're talking about a totally different lobby day, we were there. I came from Corpus to attend. That's WHY these senators were targeted for action. We have gone to their offices, called them, emailed them, etc.

@bealotcoolerifyoudid ... I find it odd that people really care that much about the sexual practices of people they don't even know.

I've baked you these oatmeal cookies. A few chocolate chip, too, but I'm afraid most of the batch got a little too toasty. Welcome to the planet! If you ever need a cup of sugar or a heaping portion of moral hypocrisy, don't hesitate to come on over.

@bealotcoolerifyoudid@Daniel It's generally pretty palatable to the one who brews it. His neighbors usually complain that it makes him smell bad, though.

Oh, and did you hear about the McLemore girl across the way? Came home at three in the morning TWICE in this past month alone. If I were her parents, I'd pack her off to a convent! (Also, did you check out the ass on her? Va-va-voom!)